Report by SJG

F. A. CUP

HORWICH R.M.I. vs WIGAN ATHLETIC.

 30^th September 1933

WIGAN MARCH ON IN THE F. A. CUP

William (Bill) Jones celebrated signing an extension to his month-long trial with a crucial brace of goals to send Latics marching into the next round of the Cup. The home side plied their trade in the Lancashire Combination and a fine crowd of 4,100 was made up of a significant contingent of enthusiastic Latics fans. A special train had been laid on and transported some 650 enthusiasts to the Grundy Hill ground. While others made the journey in motor cars, motor coaches and buses.

The overhead conditions but the unusual camber of the pitch presented a new problem for the Wigan side who took some time to come to terms with the unusual bounces that resulted. The Latics defence again looked very assured with Robinson and Harrison producing stand-out performances.

Latics lost the toss and found themselves trying to come to terms with the slope and the bright sun in the opening exchanges. An early Horwich raid led to a corner kick and Caunce had to show good handling skills as he saved from a Crawshaw header, and then was in action again saving smartly from Ince.

Wigan gradually settled to their task and the link up play, particularly on the left flank, began to force the home side into retreat. O’ Dell crossed deep to pick out Scott and the winger fired in a low effort that beat Turner but only found the side-netting. A free-kick floated in by Harrison evaded the Horwich defence and Snaith was able to get in a solid header but it lacked direction and flew narrowly wide.

Horwich spurned a great chance to take the lead when Harrison misjudged the bounce of the ball and allowed Cowburn to burst free and round O’Donnell before crossing for Yates who blazed the shot high over the bar when well placed.

The game continued to flow from end to end with a number of opportunities being wasted by both sides and it was in the 29^th minute when a break through was finally achieved. A fast-flowing move involving Felton, Cowper and Snaith ended when JONES blasted a fierce drive into the home goal.

The home side were clearly unsettled by the concession and could have conceded again two minutes later when Kane clearly handled inside the penalty area, but the referee was not convinced that there was intent and waved for play to continue. Latics were then awarded an indirect free-kick from all of five yards after the keeper was adjudged to have ‘carried’ the ball. The free-kick came to nothing as with the whole Horwich team lined up on the goal-line there was little chance of a gap being found and Jones saw his shot smothered.

Scott showed his skill and pace and fired a fine shot that beat the keeper but it crashed against the bar and Snaith, despite getting to the rebound first, failed to find the net. Latics continued to press for a second goal before the break but the hosts stood firm in defence.

Half Time; Horwich R.M.I.  0-1 Wigan Athletic. 

After the break the home side adopted a more direct style of play and Wigan found themselves on the back foot. Phythian went down with an injury following one raid and play was held up while treatment was administered. The break in play appeared to affect the home sides momentum and when play restarted it was Wigan who suddenly looked the more likely to score with Felton and Scott causing problems for their respective markers. In the 68^th minute Felton found space and played in a cross that found COWPER who controlled the ball (possibly with a hand) and then slipped it past the keeper. Latics continued to have the better of the chances and on 77 minutes they put the game beyond the home side with a well worked goal.  Cowper beat his man on the wing and then whipped in a cross that was met by a bullet header from JONES that flew past the keeper before he could move.

Latics still pressed forward and only good keeping by Turner and brave defending stopped the goal count being higher.

In the dying minutes a well struck shot by Felton struck Shuttleworth full in the face leaving him out cold. The trainer was quickly on and was able to revive the stricken defender.

Full Time; Horwich R.M.I.  0-3 Wigan Athletic. 

Scorers; Jones (29) (77), Cowper (68);

Attendance; 4,100

Team; WIGAN---Caunce; Robinson, O’Donnell; Kavanagh, O’Dell, Harrison; Cowper, Felton, Jones, Snaith, Scott;

HORWICH---Turner; Pendlebury, Kane; Shuttleworth, Hulme, Phythian; Cowburn, Hilton, Crawshaw, Ince, Yates;

Referee; Mr. J. R. Butterworth (Rochdale)